By Sasha Sotnik, journalist, and nvua.net
08.23.2014Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Citizens of Russia recorded video greetings to the people of Ukraine on their Independence Day [August 24th].

They congratulated Ukrainians as simple residents of Moscow, and those who had visited Independence Square [Maidan] during the winter. Joining in the congratulations is the Russian satirist, writer and human rights activist Victor Shenderovich; politician activist of Svoboda Mikhail Schneyder–one of the organizers of the Moscow rallies in the late 1980s and early 1990s and rallies on Chysti Stavky and Bolotnaya Square in 2011.

[Amongst those in the video are Ayder Muzhdabaev, a deputy editor at Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper; Maya Zavyalova, a representative of the Russian United Democratic Party, Yabloko; Eduard Kapchikaev, lawyer; Russian journalist, historian, radio host and priest Yakov Krotov; Aleksandr Shcherbakov, journalist; Sergei Sharov-Delone, public defender and a member of the May 6 Committee (Bolotnaya clashes)].

During the recording of the congratulations, police in Alexander Garden detained five people. Among those detained were the camera operator Vladimir Shreydler, a member of the Committee for Solidarity Olga Kurnosov, Sergei Sharshukov, Elena Vasilieva and Roman Roslovtsev.

At this current time, all the activists were released.

Law enforcement officials did not explain to any of the detainees the reason for their detention and removal to the police station in Chinatown.

The Department of Internal Affairs declined to comment on the incident.